Ghostwalker 1,859 Posted July 20, 2014 The maths are simple A rider earned 4 times approx. yes FOUR TIMES in Sweden and Poland than England. Ride in Poland on Sunday. Rest and maintain machinery on Monday Ride in Sweden on Tuesday, The riders must laugh at watching the knackered riders rushing to Sweden on Tuesday after riding in England on Monday. They would only need to score 3 more points on Tuesday to cover 12 points in England on Monday. As pointed earlier as great as AJ was at Lakeside or Nikki P at Eastbourne it had very little difference in the crowd levels. Lost some respect in Woofy do put gun against the head of BSPA ( as they are likely to pull the trigger) Do you have any source to verify this claim? I would think over a full season a rider won't earn that much less in England then in Sweden. Our Elitserien starts in May and ends in September, your season starts in March and ends in November. For a rider in Elitserien it is a maximum of 14 meetings +play off (if his team finishes top 6, which is at the most another 6 meetings (4 meetings for a team that finishes top 2). As for the squads, team are only allowed to have 7 riders with average that is greater then 0,500 + two guest riders that are permanent the entire season. A guestrider also have to be Swedish and cannot rider for another team in the same division. Riders with an average at 0,500 does not take up one of the seven places in the squad. Take a look at Smederna's squad: http://ta.svemo.se/Public/Pages/TeamSections.aspx?TeamId=234 There are 9 riders in the main squad, Oliver Berntzon and Johannes Stark does not count due their low season entry average. PK, Zorro, Berntzon, Eklöf and Henderson are rivals for the three mandatory Swedish positions in the lineup while Kenni Larsen, Davey Watt*, Mikkel Michelse, Grzegorz Zengota and Pawel Przedpelski are rivals for the remaining 4 positions for each meeting. Squads can only changed during the mid-season transfer window, except for injured riders who are expected to be away for 4 weeks or more, which can be temporarily replaced during their absence (with some restrictions regarding average for the replacing rider). *Davey Watt is a temporary replacement for Grigorij Laguta until Laguta returns from injury. For more info see this thread. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Midland Red 2,383 Posted July 20, 2014 One night for BEL speedway will reduce crowd levels, if speedway fans are like I was in my younger days! I would regularly attend at Perry Barr on a Monday and Blackbird Road on a Tuesday, finishing my week at Brandon on the Saturday Virtually every week at the first two, and all but the first Saturday in the month at home The idea of single night speedway would allow for only one meeting per week, and for those unable, or unwilling, to travel, one meeting every other week In the "good old days" Saturday night was speedway night at Brandon, and similarly throughout the UK, teams were at home every week - so, it was habit-forming and little else got in the way of speedway spectatoring It helped too that teams were virtually unchanged from season to season, so that fans became attached to their favourites, many of whom were local and known personally to a lot of spectators And with a full programme of league and cup racing, together with regional team competitions and individual meetings, there were enough meetings in the UK for the riders I honestly believe that the way forward is to step back to this scenario, and let those who want to commute to and from continental Europe to race do so As long as there is a level playing field of rider standard, it doesn't really matter at what level that is - do the star-packed Swedish teams provide better racing because of their rider make-up? - I'm not certain they do I well remember the merger of the National and Provincial Leagues - it won't work, they said - but it did, in a very big way As far as TV is concerned, do away with live transmission in the UK, so that those who want to watch speedway have to pay at the turnstiles - by all means have a "match of the day" type magazine programme, showing edited highlights, so that the sport is still visible to potential fans If it means going "semi-professional" then so be it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
orion 7,625 Posted July 20, 2014 One night for BEL speedway will reduce crowd levels, if speedway fans are like I was in my younger days! I would regularly attend at Perry Barr on a Monday and Blackbird Road on a Tuesday, finishing my week at Brandon on the Saturday Virtually every week at the first two, and all but the first Saturday in the month at home The idea of single night speedway would allow for only one meeting per week, and for those unable, or unwilling, to travel, one meeting every other week Most fans can only afford to go one once so that's not a problem .if you want to watch more then is nothing stop you watching the PL and NL on other nights . Speedway can't go on as it is and we can't go back to the good old days so let's give it a go . 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FAST GATER 855 Posted July 20, 2014 One night a week for EL yes let's make it Saturday ,kids have no scchool better for young famiies the future fan base of the sport hang on the powers that be gave it to the Olsen Circus. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
T.N.T. 355 Posted July 20, 2014 The Tai article in the Speedway Star is not unlike other articles in the past from other riders and for a few years many riders have found the British schedule too hectic being on more than one race night in the Elite League and over the years we have seen many a rider drop the Elite League due mainly to the race nights like Pedersen, Hampel, Jonsson, Holder, Lindgren and many many more. For some they see British Speedway as a way of riding different tracks and earning extra money and if they can fit it in then they will. Some however want to ride here but it simply doesn't work out working in one place for half the money they can get in another place and have to rush through the night waiting and taking flights and sleeping in vans that is no real life for anyone, especially a professional sportsman riding a machine. Tai like many others want to ride here but if it means they are going to be drained mentality and physically through travelling across Europe and back in 48 hours for three different meetings then riding on different nights has to be dropped and stick with a reliable agenda of Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday racing with the odd Saturday night meeting has to be easier for travelling and for health. For years I have posted my ideas about how the leagues should have switched direction and in the past few years it has become more and more relevant that with a few changes over time these ideas need to be adapted more and more if British Speedway wants to see the top riders like Woffinden, Ward, Holder etc racing here and maybe even appearances from riders like Hancock, Sayfutdinov, Pedersen, Laguta etc. Basically you have an Elite League with about 8 teams on Mondays only which is what Sky insist on, a Premier League with the rest but these are split into two groups, North and South. Then you have a British League which is the center of the plan and rules in this league will determine most things as every track in the EL and PL builds a team to the same standard and these teams are split into two groups which are selected accordinjgly. The teams that with to enter the EL then have s Star Squad list which consists of 4 riders of which they can use any two along with 5 of their British League riders to compete in the Elite League. This means that all tracks have roughly the same amount of meetings at home and away but tracks competiting in the EL will have two teams of different standards to firld. Some may only want to watch the EL while some may want to watch both but with the chances of Woffinden v Hancock or Pedersen v Ward on the bill, I'm sure it would attract a decent crowd and in the British League the racing could be better as riders are of a more equal standing. The details I'm not going into here but I have this all done out and will be passing it on to a few people for their views and opinions and one will be Tai Woffinden. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The White Knight 9,039 Posted July 20, 2014 One night a week for EL yes let's make it Saturday ,kids have no scchool better for young famiies the future fan base of the sport hang on the powers that be gave it to the Olsen Circus. 'Fraid so!! However we could go back to Saturday Night Racing. For those who want to watch the GPs (Circus) - they are only on Eurosport - so - why can't folks set up and record their GP. They can then go to their Club Meeting on a Saturday Night. Watch the GP when you get home, fast forward through the adverts and 'Bob's your Uncle - problem solved. Plus side of that - you don't have to watch the adverts - RESULT!!! Worth a thought anyway. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Midland Red 2,383 Posted July 20, 2014 Do we need Sky live league meetings? We're trying to get people through the turnstiles, whilst Sky live broadcast encourages stay-at-home fans No more live Sky as a starter! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mike.Butler 601 Posted July 20, 2014 wouldnt it be wonderful if Belle Vue, Coventry and Cradley (at new track) all raced on a Saturday night like they used to. Getting to Brandon (and to the new Manchester track) through the friday traffic puts some potential fans off i know for sure. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
T.N.T. 355 Posted July 20, 2014 Do we need Sky live league meetings? We're trying to get people through the turnstiles, whilst Sky live broadcast encourages stay-at-home fans No more live Sky as a starter! They need the money SKY put in. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The White Knight 9,039 Posted July 20, 2014 They need the money SKY put in. Very true sadly. He who pays the Piper calls the tune. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ghostwalker 1,859 Posted July 20, 2014 Do we need Sky live league meetings? We're trying to get people through the turnstiles, whilst Sky live broadcast encourages stay-at-home fans No more live Sky as a starter! It depends how many spectators they loose from it in relation to how many sponsors who wouldn't be interesting in sponsoring without tv-coverage. Also IMO a sport without TV-coverage will struggle to get new fans since they might not find out about the sport without it. In Sweden we have a saying that goes like this "syns du inte så finns du inte", translated it means about "if you are not seen, you do not exist". Meaning that you need to have the sport exposed on tv and in media in general to make fans aware of the sport. A good tv-meeting can be a fantastic good advert for the sport, but obviously on days when it feels like the rain is about to start falling in any second, some people will stay at home and watch it on tv. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Daniel Smith 5,685 Posted July 20, 2014 It depends how many spectators they loose from it in relation to how many sponsors who wouldn't be interesting in sponsoring without tv-coverage. Also IMO a sport without TV-coverage will struggle to get new fans since they might not find out about the sport without it. In Sweden we have a saying that goes like this "syns du inte så finns du inte", translated it means about "if you are not seen, you do not exist". Meaning that you need to have the sport exposed on tv and in media in general to make fans aware of the sport. A good tv-meeting can be a fantastic good advert for the sport, but obviously on days when it feels like the rain is about to start falling in any second, some people will stay at home and watch it on tv. You are correct but what we tend to find in the UK is that the fixture selection for TV meetings are horrendous. Wrong tracks, wrong away teams etc. TV matches should be a showcase but far too many times Elite League TV matches are laughing stocks yet when they pick Premier League meetings for TV they're the best meetings on the best tracks. I just don't get it 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
orion 7,625 Posted July 20, 2014 Do we need Sky live league meetings? We're trying to get people through the turnstiles, whilst Sky live broadcast encourages stay-at-home fans No more live Sky as a starter! You could say that about any TV sport . A lot of new fans no doubt got into speedway by first watching a Sky match You are correct but what we tend to find in the UK is that the fixture selection for TV meetings are horrendous. Wrong tracks, wrong away teams etc. TV matches should be a showcase but far too many times Elite League TV matches are laughing stocks yet when they pick Premier League meetings for TV they're the best meetings on the best tracks. I just don't get it To be fair I think they have made a much better effort in terms of picking matches this year ...more matches on normal race nights a nice mix of El and Pl etc Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
T.N.T. 355 Posted July 20, 2014 To be fair I think they have made a much better effort in terms of picking matches this year ...more matches on normal race nights a nice mix of El and Pl etc EL matches would be mainly or always Mondays All other leagues would be on any night that track wishes apart from Mondays due to doubling up riders and at present there are no Monday PL tracks any way 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ruffdiamond 6,115 Posted July 20, 2014 (edited) 'Fraid so!! However we could go back to Saturday Night Racing. For those who want to watch the GPs (Circus) - they are only on Eurosport - so - why can't folks set up and record their GP. They can then go to their Club Meeting on a Saturday Night. Watch the GP when you get home, fast forward through the adverts and 'Bob's your Uncle - problem solved. Plus side of that - you don't have to watch the adverts - RESULT!!! Worth a thought anyway. that's all well and good, if you have the facilities to do it, dunno if all fans have tho ???,,, :-( Do we need Sky live league meetings? We're trying to get people through the turnstiles, whilst Sky live broadcast encourages stay-at-home fans No more live Sky as a starter! does speedway not apprieciate the money from sky,,, and the sponsorship that comes with it ??? surely, speedway could'nt survive with people coming thru the gates :-( Edited July 20, 2014 by ruffdiamond Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
